Citi launched on Monday a global technology hub at its Bahrain offices, the first of its kind in the region and with the aim of employing 1,000 coders over the next decade.

The hub, based at Citi`s Bahrain premises, was set up in partnership with Tamkeen, a government-funded labour fund, and Bahrain`s Economic Development Board (EDB), which are also investing, a Citi executive said.

Under the plan, Citi will hire at least 100 people in coding-related roles each year over the next 10 years.

The new hires will initially work on two of the bank`s main platforms, Citi Velocity and Citi FX Policy, said Ala`a Saeed, Citi FX`s global head of electronic platforms and distribution.

"Selecting our two flagship systems to develop out of here in Bahrain is a huge endorsement of the talent and the calibre of people that we`ve found here," he said.

Tamkeen will subsidise a portion of the salaries and cover training costs locally and abroad, said Tamkeen Chief Executive Hussain Mohammed Rajab, without disclosing figures.

Bahrain, where Citi has operated for 50 years, has sought to market itself as a financial technology hub for the Middle East and North Africa in a bid to revive its reputation as a regional banking and business centre.

The heavily indebted state, which does not have the oil or gas resources of its Gulf neighbours, received a $10 billion bailout in 2018 from some of its Gulf allies to avoid a credit crunch.

Citi launched on Monday a global technology hub at its Bahrain offices, the first of its kind in the region and with the aim of employing 1,000 coders over the next decade.

Citi launched on Monday a global technology hub at its Bahrain offices, the first of its kind in the region and with the aim of employing 1,000 coders over the next decade. The hub, based at Citi`s Bahrain premises, was set up in partnership with Tamkeen, a government-funded labour fund, and Bahrain`s Economic Development Board (EDB), which are also investing, a Citi executive said. Under the plan, Citi will hire at least 100 people in coding-related roles each year over the next 10 years. The new hires will initially work on two of the bank`s main platforms, Citi Velocity and Citi FX Policy, said Ala`a Saeed, Citi FX`s global head of electronic platforms and distribution. "Selecting our two flagship systems to develop out of here in Bahrain is a huge endorsement of the talent and the calibre of people that we`ve found here," he said. Tamkeen will subsidise a portion of the salaries and cover training costs locally and abroad, said Tamkeen Chief Executive Hussain Mohammed Rajab, without disclosing figures. Bahrain, where Citi has operated for 50 years, has sought to market itself as a financial technology hub for the Middle East and North Africa in a bid to revive its reputation as a regional banking and business centre. The heavily indebted state, which does not have the oil or gas resources of its Gulf neighbours, received a $10 billion bailout in 2018 from some of its Gulf allies to avoid a credit crunch.

Citi launches tech hub in Bahrain to develop its digital platforms

Gold prices firmed on Monday, propped up by a subdued dollar and slight retreat in the U.S. Treasury yields, with investors gearing up for speeches from U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers this week for cues on the central bank`s rate hike timeline.

Spot gold was up 0.4% at $1,757.00 per ounce, as of 0656 GMT, while US&nbsp;gold futures were up 0.4% at $1,758.50.

The dollar index softened, making bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies. Meanwhile the benchmark 10-year Treasury yields eased after hitting their highest since early-July.

"Gold is still looking slightly precarious where it is right now, and it`s probably bouncing off key technical level around $1,750," IG Market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

A slew of Fed officials are due to speak this week including Chairman Jerome Powell, who will testify this week before Congress on the central bank`s policy response to the pandemic.

"There`ll be a lot of questions being put to Fed speakers about what the dot plots implied last week and whether there is higher risk of heightened inflation going forward and that rate hikes could be coming in the first half of 2022," Rodda added.

Gold is often considered a hedge against higher inflation, but a Fed rate hike would increase the opportunity cost of holding gold, which pays no interest.

Investors also kept a close watch on developments in debt-laden property giant China Evergrande saga as the firm missed a payment on offshore bonds last week, with further payment due this week.

The People`s Bank of China continues to inject liquidity into markets indicating some systemic risks in the market and supported the bullion, Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said.

Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world`s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, increased 0.1% to 993.52 tonnes on Friday.

Gold prices firmed on Monday, propped up by a subdued dollar and slight retreat in the U.S. Treasury yields, with investors gearing up for speeches from U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers this week for cues on the central bank`s rate hike timeline.

Gold prices firmed on Monday, propped up by a subdued dollar and slight retreat in the U.S. Treasury yields, with investors gearing up for speeches from U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers this week for cues on the central bank`s rate hike timeline. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $1,757.00 per ounce, as of 0656 GMT, while US gold futures were up 0.4% at $1,758.50. The dollar index softened, making bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies. Meanwhile the benchmark 10-year Treasury yields eased after hitting their highest since early-July. "Gold is still looking slightly precarious where it is right now, and it`s probably bouncing off key technical level around $1,750," IG Market analyst Kyle Rodda said. A slew of Fed officials are due to speak this week including Chairman Jerome Powell, who will testify this week before Congress on the central bank`s policy response to the pandemic. "There`ll be a lot of questions being put to Fed speakers about what the dot plots implied last week and whether there is higher risk of heightened inflation going forward and that rate hikes could be coming in the first half of 2022," Rodda added. Gold is often considered a hedge against higher inflation, but a Fed rate hike would increase the opportunity cost of holding gold, which pays no interest. Investors also kept a close watch on developments in debt-laden property giant China Evergrande saga as the firm missed a payment on offshore bonds last week, with further payment due this week. The People`s Bank of China continues to inject liquidity into markets indicating some systemic risks in the market and supported the bullion, Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said. Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world`s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, increased 0.1% to 993.52 tonnes on Friday.

Gold gains as soft dollar lifts bullion appeal; Fed in focus

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Sunday night that the House would vote on a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill Thursday, giving Democrats more time to reach a consensus on President Joe Biden’s sprawling domestic policy package.

The vote will come hours before government funding — as well as key transportation programs addressed in the infrastructure bill — is scheduled to lapse Oct. 1, leaving lawmakers with a narrow margin for error.

Pelosi had committed last month to holding a vote on the legislation by Monday, after a group of centrist Democrats threatened to vote against a budget blueprint needed to push through the party’s signature $3.5 trillion social policy and climate change bill unless they were promised a quick vote on the infrastructure measure, which the Senate passed last month.

But progressive lawmakers have vowed not to support the infrastructure bill until Congress acts on the $3.5 trillion plan to provide vast new investments in education, health, child care, paid leave and climate programs. That package has yet to be completed.

Pelosi’s announcement that the House would aim to pass the infrastructure bill later in the week reflected the difficulty of the task that Democratic leaders face as they feverishly try to knit together a compromise to move forward with Biden’s agenda.

“I’m never bringing a bill to the floor that doesn’t have the votes,” Pelosi said of the infrastructure bill on “This Week” on ABC on Sunday.

Biden and members of his Cabinet huddled with lawmakers over the weekend in a bid to push the two bills over the finish line, according to a White House official familiar with the discussions.

With a razor-thin majority, Pelosi can lose only three votes for the social policy plan, and Senate Democrats hope to push it through using the fast-track budget process known as reconciliation to shield it from a filibuster. House Republicans have urged their members to oppose the $1 trillion infrastructure package, so more than a few defections can sink that bill.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, pledged again Sunday that liberal lawmakers would not support the infrastructure bill unless it was accompanied by action on the $3.5 trillion plan.

“The speaker is an incredibly good vote counter, and she knows exactly where her caucus stands, and we’ve been really clear on that,” Jayapal said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “The votes aren’t there.”

But Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. and one of the lead centrists in the House negotiating with Pelosi, suggested that progressives had issued an empty threat.

“It’s a key part of the president’s agenda,” Gottheimer said on “State of the Union.” “I just don’t buy at the end of the day that folks will vote against it.”

In the Senate on Monday, Democrats will also take up consideration of an emergency spending package needed to avert a government shutdown. Republicans, objecting because it contains legislation that would lift the limit on the federal government’s ability to borrow, are expected to block the measure in a procedural vote. The bill passed the House with only Democratic votes.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Sunday night that the House would vote on a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill Thursday, giving Democrats more time to reach a consensus on President Joe Biden’s sprawling domestic policy package.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Sunday night that the House would vote on a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill Thursday, giving Democrats more time to reach a consensus on President Joe Biden’s sprawling domestic policy package. The vote will come hours before government funding — as well as key transportation programs addressed in the infrastructure bill — is scheduled to lapse Oct. 1, leaving lawmakers with a narrow margin for error. Pelosi had committed last month to holding a vote on the legislation by Monday, after a group of centrist Democrats threatened to vote against a budget blueprint needed to push through the party’s signature $3.5 trillion social policy and climate change bill unless they were promised a quick vote on the infrastructure measure, which the Senate passed last month. But progressive lawmakers have vowed not to support the infrastructure bill until Congress acts on the $3.5 trillion plan to provide vast new investments in education, health, child care, paid leave and climate programs. That package has yet to be completed. Pelosi’s announcement that the House would aim to pass the infrastructure bill later in the week reflected the difficulty of the task that Democratic leaders face as they feverishly try to knit together a compromise to move forward with Biden’s agenda. “I’m never bringing a bill to the floor that doesn’t have the votes,” Pelosi said of the infrastructure bill on “This Week” on ABC on Sunday. Biden and members of his Cabinet huddled with lawmakers over the weekend in a bid to push the two bills over the finish line, according to a White House official familiar with the discussions. With a razor-thin majority, Pelosi can lose only three votes for the social policy plan, and Senate Democrats hope to push it through using the fast-track budget process known as reconciliation to shield it from a filibuster. House Republicans have urged their members to oppose the $1 trillion infrastructure package, so more than a few defections can sink that bill. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, pledged again Sunday that liberal lawmakers would not support the infrastructure bill unless it was accompanied by action on the $3.5 trillion plan. “The speaker is an incredibly good vote counter, and she knows exactly where her caucus stands, and we’ve been really clear on that,” Jayapal said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “The votes aren’t there.” But Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. and one of the lead centrists in the House negotiating with Pelosi, suggested that progressives had issued an empty threat. “It’s a key part of the president’s agenda,” Gottheimer said on “State of the Union.” “I just don’t buy at the end of the day that folks will vote against it.” In the Senate on Monday, Democrats will also take up consideration of an emergency spending package needed to avert a government shutdown. Republicans, objecting because it contains legislation that would lift the limit on the federal government’s ability to borrow, are expected to block the measure in a procedural vote. The bill passed the House with only Democratic votes.

Pelosi announces vote on $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill

For nearly two decades, lawmakers in Washington have waged an escalating display of brinkmanship over the federal government’s ability to borrow money to pay its bills. They have forced administrations of both parties to take evasive actions, pushing the nation dangerously close to economic calamity. But they have never actually tipped the United States into default.

The dance is repeating this fall, but this time the dynamics are different — and the threat of default is greater than ever.

Republicans in Congress have refused to help raise the nation’s debt limit, even though the need to borrow stems from the bipartisan practice of running large budget deficits. Republicans agree the United States must pay its bills, but on Monday they are expected to block a measure in the Senate that would enable the government to do so. Democrats, insistent that Republicans help pay for past decisions to boost spending and cut taxes, have so far refused to use a special process to raise the limit on their own.

Observers inside and outside Washington are worried neither side will budge in time, roiling financial markets and capsizing the economy’s nascent recovery from the pandemic downturn.

If the limit is not raised or suspended, officials at the Treasury Department warn, the government will soon exhaust its ability to borrow money, forcing officials to choose between missing payments on military salaries, Social Security benefits and the interest it owes to investors who have financed America’s spending spree.

Yet Republicans have threatened to filibuster any attempt by Senate Democrats to pass a simple bill to increase borrowing. Party leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky want to force Democrats to raise the limit on their own, through a fast-track congressional process that bypasses a Republican filibuster. That could take weeks to come to fruition, raising the stakes every day that Democratic leaders decline to pursue that option.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that no one is quite sure when the government will run out of money. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the United States in waves, frequently disrupting economic activity and the taxes the government collects, complicating Treasury’s ability to gauge its cash flow. Estimates for what is known as the “X-date” range from as early as Oct. 15 to mid-November.

Amid that uncertainty, congressional leaders and President Joe Biden are not even attempting to negotiate a resolution. Instead, they are sparring over who should be saddled with a vote that could be used against them, raising the odds that partisan stubbornness will propel the country into a fiscal unknown.

It all adds up to an impasse rooted in political messaging, midterm campaign advertising and a desire by Republican leaders to do whatever they can to protest Biden’s economic agenda, including the $3.5 trillion spending bill that Democrats hope to pass along party lines using a fast-track budget process.

Republicans say they will not supply any votes to lift the debt cap, despite having run up trillions in new debt to pay for the 2017 tax cuts, additional government spending and pandemic aid during the Trump administration. Democrats, in contrast, helped President Donald Trump increase borrowing in 2017 and 2019.

“If they want to tax, borrow, and spend historic sums of money without our input,” McConnell said on the Senate floor this week, “they will have to raise the debt limit without our help.”

Thus far, Biden and Democratic leaders in Congress have declined to do so, even though employing that process would end the threat of default.

Jon Lieber, a former aide to McConnell who is now with the Eurasia Group, a political-risk consultancy in Washington, wrote in a warning to clients this week that there is a 1-in-5 chance the standoff will push the country into at least a technical debt default — forcing the government to choose between paying bondholders and honoring all its spending commitments — this fall.

“That’s crazy high for an event like this,” Lieber said in an interview, noting that the odds are significantly higher than in past standoffs. “But I feel really confident that’s the level of panic we should be having.”

Under President George W. Bush, Democrats, including Biden, voted in 2006 against a debt-limit increase, citing Bush’s budget deficits that were swollen by tax cuts and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They did so despite warnings from administration officials that a default would hurt the nation’s credit rating and economy.

Biden, like many other Democrats, said he could not abet Bush’s fiscal decisions. But his party did not filibuster a vote and Republicans were able to pass a debt limit increase along party lines. White House officials say Biden’s vote was symbolic, noting that the ability of Republicans to raise the debt ceiling was never in question.

Leaders of both parties have, at times, made a version of the core argument in favor of raising the limit: that it is simply a way to allow the government to pay bills it has already incurred. Both parties also have shown no sign of slowing the nation’s borrowing spree, which accelerated last year as lawmakers approved trillions of dollars of aid for people and businesses struggling through the pandemic recession. Each party has recently occupied the White House and controlled Congress, but neither has come close in recent years to approving a budget that would balance — which is to say, not require additional borrowing and a debt-limit increase — within a decade.

Biden administration officials, former Treasury secretaries from both parties and business executives from around the country have all urged lawmakers to raise the borrowing limit as soon as possible.

“I think it’s scary for consumer confidence and for confidence in U.S. businesses and potential credit ratings if we don’t make sure that we raise that debt ceiling,” Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, said on CNBC earlier this month.

Democrats say Republicans have a responsibility to help raise the limit, noting that they helped when Trump needed to do it. White House officials called McConnell’s position hypocritical.

“Republicans in Congress have spent a decade ushering in a new era where the prospect of default and a global economic meltdown has become a dangerous political football,” Michael Gwin, a White House spokesperson, said in an email. “As we rebound from the deep recession caused by the pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to put partisanship aside, remove this cloud from over our economy, and responsibly address the debt limit — just like Democrats did three times under the previous administration.”

Lieber and other analysts worry party leaders are talking past each other. Experts suggest it would take a week or two for Democratic leaders to steer a debt limit increase through the fast-track budget process. That could leave the government vulnerable to a sudden crisis. On Friday, the independent Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank, said the government could run out of cash to pay its bills by mid-October.

Lieber said he is worried about “the risk of miscalculation of both sides,” in part because this standoff is not the same as the ones under Obama. “The Republicans aren’t asking for anything,” he said. “So their position is, there’s nothing you can do to get us to vote for a debt ceiling increase. That’s a dangerous situation.”

Goldman Sachs researchers warned in a note to clients this month that the volatile nature of tax receipts this year, a product of the pandemic, makes the debt limit “riskier than usual” for the economy and markets. They said the standoff was at least as risky as in 2011, when brinkmanship disrupted bond yields and the stock market.

Other financial analysts continue to believe that, as they have in the past, the sides will eventually find an agreement — largely because of the consequences of failure.

“We believe Congress will raise or suspend the debt ceiling,” Beth Ann Bovino, S&amp;P U.S. chief economist, wrote this week. “A default by the U.S. government would be substantially worse than the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, devastating global markets and the economy.”

In the meantime, Republicans are awaiting a vote by Democrats to raise the limit. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who heads Republicans’ campaign arm in the Senate, told an NBC reporter he was eager to highlight Democratic support for raising the limit in midterm advertisements.

For nearly two decades, lawmakers in Washington have waged an escalating display of brinkmanship over the federal government’s ability to borrow money to pay its bills.

For nearly two decades, lawmakers in Washington have waged an escalating display of brinkmanship over the federal government’s ability to borrow money to pay its bills. They have forced administrations of both parties to take evasive actions, pushing the nation dangerously close to economic calamity. But they have never actually tipped the United States into default. The dance is repeating this fall, but this time the dynamics are different — and the threat of default is greater than ever. Republicans in Congress have refused to help raise the nation’s debt limit, even though the need to borrow stems from the bipartisan practice of running large budget deficits. Republicans agree the United States must pay its bills, but on Monday they are expected to block a measure in the Senate that would enable the government to do so. Democrats, insistent that Republicans help pay for past decisions to boost spending and cut taxes, have so far refused to use a special process to raise the limit on their own. Observers inside and outside Washington are worried neither side will budge in time, roiling financial markets and capsizing the economy’s nascent recovery from the pandemic downturn. If the limit is not raised or suspended, officials at the Treasury Department warn, the government will soon exhaust its ability to borrow money, forcing officials to choose between missing payments on military salaries, Social Security benefits and the interest it owes to investors who have financed America’s spending spree. Yet Republicans have threatened to filibuster any attempt by Senate Democrats to pass a simple bill to increase borrowing. Party leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky want to force Democrats to raise the limit on their own, through a fast-track congressional process that bypasses a Republican filibuster. That could take weeks to come to fruition, raising the stakes every day that Democratic leaders decline to pursue that option. The problem is further compounded by the fact that no one is quite sure when the government will run out of money. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the United States in waves, frequently disrupting economic activity and the taxes the government collects, complicating Treasury’s ability to gauge its cash flow. Estimates for what is known as the “X-date” range from as early as Oct. 15 to mid-November. Amid that uncertainty, congressional leaders and President Joe Biden are not even attempting to negotiate a resolution. Instead, they are sparring over who should be saddled with a vote that could be used against them, raising the odds that partisan stubbornness will propel the country into a fiscal unknown. It all adds up to an impasse rooted in political messaging, midterm campaign advertising and a desire by Republican leaders to do whatever they can to protest Biden’s economic agenda, including the $3.5 trillion spending bill that Democrats hope to pass along party lines using a fast-track budget process. Republicans say they will not supply any votes to lift the debt cap, despite having run up trillions in new debt to pay for the 2017 tax cuts, additional government spending and pandemic aid during the Trump administration. Democrats, in contrast, helped President Donald Trump increase borrowing in 2017 and 2019. “If they want to tax, borrow, and spend historic sums of money without our input,” McConnell said on the Senate floor this week, “they will have to raise the debt limit without our help.” Thus far, Biden and Democratic leaders in Congress have declined to do so, even though employing that process would end the threat of default. Jon Lieber, a former aide to McConnell who is now with the Eurasia Group, a political-risk consultancy in Washington, wrote in a warning to clients this week that there is a 1-in-5 chance the standoff will push the country into at least a technical debt default — forcing the government to choose between paying bondholders and honoring all its spending commitments — this fall. “That’s crazy high for an event like this,” Lieber said in an interview, noting that the odds are significantly higher than in past standoffs. “But I feel really confident that’s the level of panic we should be having.” Under President George W. Bush, Democrats, including Biden, voted in 2006 against a debt-limit increase, citing Bush’s budget deficits that were swollen by tax cuts and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They did so despite warnings from administration officials that a default would hurt the nation’s credit rating and economy. Biden, like many other Democrats, said he could not abet Bush’s fiscal decisions. But his party did not filibuster a vote and Republicans were able to pass a debt limit increase along party lines. White House officials say Biden’s vote was symbolic, noting that the ability of Republicans to raise the debt ceiling was never in question. Leaders of both parties have, at times, made a version of the core argument in favor of raising the limit: that it is simply a way to allow the government to pay bills it has already incurred. Both parties also have shown no sign of slowing the nation’s borrowing spree, which accelerated last year as lawmakers approved trillions of dollars of aid for people and businesses struggling through the pandemic recession. Each party has recently occupied the White House and controlled Congress, but neither has come close in recent years to approving a budget that would balance — which is to say, not require additional borrowing and a debt-limit increase — within a decade. Biden administration officials, former Treasury secretaries from both parties and business executives from around the country have all urged lawmakers to raise the borrowing limit as soon as possible. “I think it’s scary for consumer confidence and for confidence in U.S. businesses and potential credit ratings if we don’t make sure that we raise that debt ceiling,” Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, said on CNBC earlier this month. Democrats say Republicans have a responsibility to help raise the limit, noting that they helped when Trump needed to do it. White House officials called McConnell’s position hypocritical. “Republicans in Congress have spent a decade ushering in a new era where the prospect of default and a global economic meltdown has become a dangerous political football,” Michael Gwin, a White House spokesperson, said in an email. “As we rebound from the deep recession caused by the pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to put partisanship aside, remove this cloud from over our economy, and responsibly address the debt limit — just like Democrats did three times under the previous administration.” Lieber and other analysts worry party leaders are talking past each other. Experts suggest it would take a week or two for Democratic leaders to steer a debt limit increase through the fast-track budget process. That could leave the government vulnerable to a sudden crisis. On Friday, the independent Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank, said the government could run out of cash to pay its bills by mid-October. Lieber said he is worried about “the risk of miscalculation of both sides,” in part because this standoff is not the same as the ones under Obama. “The Republicans aren’t asking for anything,” he said. “So their position is, there’s nothing you can do to get us to vote for a debt ceiling increase. That’s a dangerous situation.” Goldman Sachs researchers warned in a note to clients this month that the volatile nature of tax receipts this year, a product of the pandemic, makes the debt limit “riskier than usual” for the economy and markets. They said the standoff was at least as risky as in 2011, when brinkmanship disrupted bond yields and the stock market. Other financial analysts continue to believe that, as they have in the past, the sides will eventually find an agreement — largely because of the consequences of failure. “We believe Congress will raise or suspend the debt ceiling,” Beth Ann Bovino, S&P U.S. chief economist, wrote this week. “A default by the U.S. government would be substantially worse than the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, devastating global markets and the economy.” In the meantime, Republicans are awaiting a vote by Democrats to raise the limit. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who heads Republicans’ campaign arm in the Senate, told an NBC reporter he was eager to highlight Democratic support for raising the limit in midterm advertisements.

America’s need to pay Its bills has spawned a political game

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties.

Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results

SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent 
CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent 
Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent 
Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent 
Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent

Final official results will be published in a few weeks.

The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change.

Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-spd-secretary-general-says-we-have-mandate-to-govern-416203">German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern'</a>

Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments.&nbsp;

Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner.

<img alt="Armin Laschet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c574601-bd7a-482f-8e24-398bf707605b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Laschet.JPG" />

(Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor)

Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them.

Polls over, what next?

German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-federal-elections-2021-what-you-need-to-know-about-race-for-chancellor-416151">German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor</a>

This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments.

When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament.

Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share

CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share.

She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods.

In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties. Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent Final official results will be published in a few weeks. The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change. Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own. Also Read | German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern' Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments. Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner. (Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor) Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them. Polls over, what next? German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks. Also Read | German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments. When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament. Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share. She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods. In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Not over till it's over: Gruelling coalition talks await post-Merkel Germany after polls

United Nations spokesman said on Friday that no representative from Myanmar is scheduled to address United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This has come amid rival claims for Myanmar's UN seat after military coup that toppled the civilian government.

The Ambassador for the ousted government of Afghanistan will give his speech on Monday.

"At this point, Myanmar is not speaking," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Myanmar's current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun - appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government - had initially been expected to address the 193-member General Assembly on Monday, the final day of the gathering.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-new-defence-minister-asks-taliban-soldiers-to-stop-taking-selfies-416274">Afghanistan's new defence minister asks Taliban soldiers to stop taking selfies</a>

But diplomats said China, Russia and the United States had reached an understanding, where Moscow and Beijing will not object to Kyaw Moe Tun remaining in Myanmar's U.N. seat for the moment as long as he does not speak during the high-level meeting.

"I withdrew from the speaker list, and will not speak at this general debate," Kyaw Moe Tun told Reuters, adding that he was aware of the understanding between some members of the UN credentials committee, which includes Russia, China and the United States.

Myanmar's junta has put forward military veteran Aung Thurein to be its UN envoy, while Kyaw Moe Tun has asked to renew his UN accreditation, despite being the target of a plot to kill or injure him over his opposition to the February coup.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-orders-barbers-in-helmand-province-not-to-shave-or-trim-beards-416272">Taliban orders barbers in Helmand province not to shave or trim beards</a>

Dujarric said that "for now, the Afghanistan representative inscribed on the list for Monday is Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai." Isaczai is the current UN ambassador, who represents Afghanistan's government ousted by the Taliban.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday asked to address the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations and nominated the Islamist group's Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's UN ambassador.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-junta-blames-internet-blackouts-on-anti-coup-fighters-416234">Myanmar junta blames internet blackouts on anti-coup fighters</a>

UN accreditation issues are dealt with by a nine-member committee, whose members include the United States, China and Russia. It traditionally meets in October or November so a decision would not be made in time that would allow Muttaqi to address the high-level General Assembly meeting this year.

Until a decision is made by the credentials committee on both Afghanistan and Myanmar, Isaczai and Kyaw Moe Tun will remain in the seats, according to the General Assembly rules.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Nations spokesman said on Friday that no representative from Myanmar is scheduled to address United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This has come amid rival claims for Myanmar's UN seat after military coup that toppled the civilian government.

United Nations spokesman said on Friday that no representative from Myanmar is scheduled to address United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This has come amid rival claims for Myanmar's UN seat after military coup that toppled the civilian government. The Ambassador for the ousted government of Afghanistan will give his speech on Monday. "At this point, Myanmar is not speaking," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Myanmar's current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun - appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government - had initially been expected to address the 193-member General Assembly on Monday, the final day of the gathering. Also Read | Afghanistan's new defence minister asks Taliban soldiers to stop taking selfies But diplomats said China, Russia and the United States had reached an understanding, where Moscow and Beijing will not object to Kyaw Moe Tun remaining in Myanmar's U.N. seat for the moment as long as he does not speak during the high-level meeting. "I withdrew from the speaker list, and will not speak at this general debate," Kyaw Moe Tun told Reuters, adding that he was aware of the understanding between some members of the UN credentials committee, which includes Russia, China and the United States. Myanmar's junta has put forward military veteran Aung Thurein to be its UN envoy, while Kyaw Moe Tun has asked to renew his UN accreditation, despite being the target of a plot to kill or injure him over his opposition to the February coup. Also Read | Taliban orders barbers in Helmand province not to shave or trim beards Dujarric said that "for now, the Afghanistan representative inscribed on the list for Monday is Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai." Isaczai is the current UN ambassador, who represents Afghanistan's government ousted by the Taliban. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday asked to address the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations and nominated the Islamist group's Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's UN ambassador. Also Read | Myanmar junta blames internet blackouts on anti-coup fighters UN accreditation issues are dealt with by a nine-member committee, whose members include the United States, China and Russia. It traditionally meets in October or November so a decision would not be made in time that would allow Muttaqi to address the high-level General Assembly meeting this year. Until a decision is made by the credentials committee on both Afghanistan and Myanmar, Isaczai and Kyaw Moe Tun will remain in the seats, according to the General Assembly rules. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar won't address world at UN, ousted Afghan government will

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in&nbsp;federal (Bundestag) elections,&nbsp;all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats.

Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany

Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU)

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Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region.

Laschet's&nbsp;approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany.

Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate.

Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD)

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Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD).

His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/farewell-angela-merkel-you-were-once-the-leader-of-the-free-world-415832">Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World</a>

 
Annalena Baerbock (Green Party)

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Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls.

But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent.

While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government.

How do German elections work?

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Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them.

Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament.

For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections)&nbsp;are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat.

A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote.

This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes.

This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections.

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Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error.

Who can vote?

Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad.&nbsp;

People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote.

As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel.

Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies.

This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record.

When will the result be known?

After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night.

Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later.&nbsp;

How did things stand after 2017 elections?

Here is where things stood after the 2017 election:

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats

Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats

Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats

Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats

Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats

Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats

(With inputs from agencies)

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor. The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats. Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU) Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region. Laschet's approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany. Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate. Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD) Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD). His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet. Also Read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World Annalena Baerbock (Green Party) Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls. But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent. While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government. How do German elections work? Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them. Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament. For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections) are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat. A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote. This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes. This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections. × Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error. Who can vote? Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad. People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote. As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel. Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies. This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record. When will the result be known? After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night. Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later. How did things stand after 2017 elections? Here is where things stood after the 2017 election: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats (With inputs from agencies)

German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor

India strongly slammed Pakistan in its Right of Reply at United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raked up Kashmir issue during his virtual address to the assembly. India said that Pakistan had established history of supporting terrorists. Sneha Dubey, First Secretary at UNGA said that terrorists enjoyed "free pass" in Pakistan.

"Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down," said Dubey.

"Member States are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists. This is a country that has been globally recognized as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of State policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council," she added.

She said that Imran Khan statements were an attempt to "spew falsehoods". She also slammed him for commenting on internal matters of India.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-new-york-will-address-unga-today-415739">PM Modi arrives in New York, will address UNGA today</a>

"We exercise our Right of Reply to one more attempt by the leader of Pakistan to tarnish the image of this august forum by bringing in matters internal to my country, and going so far as to spew falsehoods on the world stage," she said.

Imran Khan, in his virtual address claimed that Pakistan wanted peace with India but put the onus on India.

"The onus remains on India to create a conducive environment for meaningful and result-oriented engagement with Pakistan," Khan's statement read.

Pakistan glorified Osama Bin Laden as martyr

First Secretary Sneha Dubey recalled 9/11 attacks and underlined that Osama Bin Laden was eventually found in Pakistan.

"We marked the solemn occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks a few days back. The world has not forgotten that the mastermind behind that dastardly event, Osama Bin Laden, got shelter in Pakistan. Even today, Pakistan leadership glorify him as a martyr," she said.

Dubey further said, "Regrettably, even today we heard the leader of Pakistan trying to justify acts of terror. Such defence of terrorism is unacceptable in the modern world."

"Arsonist disguised as fire-fighter"

Calling Pakistan "arsonist disguised as fire-fighter" she countered Pakistan's usual claim of being a victim of terrorism.

(With inputs from agencies)

India strongly slammed Pakistan in its Right of Reply at United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raked up Kashmir issue during his virtual address to the assembly.

India strongly slammed Pakistan in its Right of Reply at United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raked up Kashmir issue during his virtual address to the assembly. India said that Pakistan had established history of supporting terrorists. Sneha Dubey, First Secretary at UNGA said that terrorists enjoyed "free pass" in Pakistan. "Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down," said Dubey. "Member States are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists. This is a country that has been globally recognized as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of State policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council," she added. She said that Imran Khan statements were an attempt to "spew falsehoods". She also slammed him for commenting on internal matters of India. Also Read | PM Modi arrives in New York, will address UNGA today "We exercise our Right of Reply to one more attempt by the leader of Pakistan to tarnish the image of this august forum by bringing in matters internal to my country, and going so far as to spew falsehoods on the world stage," she said. Imran Khan, in his virtual address claimed that Pakistan wanted peace with India but put the onus on India. "The onus remains on India to create a conducive environment for meaningful and result-oriented engagement with Pakistan," Khan's statement read. Pakistan glorified Osama Bin Laden as martyr First Secretary Sneha Dubey recalled 9/11 attacks and underlined that Osama Bin Laden was eventually found in Pakistan. "We marked the solemn occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks a few days back. The world has not forgotten that the mastermind behind that dastardly event, Osama Bin Laden, got shelter in Pakistan. Even today, Pakistan leadership glorify him as a martyr," she said. Dubey further said, "Regrettably, even today we heard the leader of Pakistan trying to justify acts of terror. Such defence of terrorism is unacceptable in the modern world." "Arsonist disguised as fire-fighter" Calling Pakistan "arsonist disguised as fire-fighter" she countered Pakistan's usual claim of being a victim of terrorism. (With inputs from agencies)

'Arsonist disguised as fire-fighter': India slams Pakistan at UNGA over Kashmir, terrorism

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla on Saturday (September 25) said that infrastructure partnership between Quad nations was independent of 'any other parameters', indirectly denying that Quad infra initiative was a counter to China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He was responding to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma's question during press conference.

"You spoke about infrastructure partnership, can you detail something on the scale and scope of this? And is this comparable to China's BRI which has pushed countries into debt? Also, is Quad going to have a military dimension?" asked Palki Sharma.

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"The idea is to provide certain standards to provide a certain level of transparency," said Shringla.

Reading from a paper in his hand, Shringla said that Quad infrastructure partnership would look at "mapping region's infrastructure needs, co-ordinating regional needs and opportunities, providing technical assistance, empowering regional partners with evaluative tools, promoting sustainable infrastructure development"

On repeating the question on military angle of the Quad.&nbsp;Shringla avoided direct comment.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quad-joint-statement-underlines-need-for-open-indo-pacific-undaunted-by-coercion-415748">Quad joint statement underlines need for open Indo-Pacific 'undaunted by coercion'</a>

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China's ambitious infrastructure project that is expected to span Asia, Europe by land and even Africa via waterways. However, China's approach has raised alarm worldwide. The countries implementing BRI projects on their soil are often seen to get stuck in a debt trap thus keeping their economies at China's mercy.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-monitor-actions-not-the-words-of-the-taliban-japans-pm-415701">We will monitor actions, not the words of the Taliban: Japan's PM</a>

Quad grouping, comprising of Australia, India, Japan and the USA is often perceived as a group of nations that wants to contain growing Chinese assertiveness.

Quad countries had their first-ever in-person summit in Washington on Saturday (local time).&nbsp;

In the run-up to the Quad summit China expressed its displeasure as said that the grouping was “doomed to fail”.

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla on Saturday (September 25) said that infrastructure partnership between Quad nations was independent of 'any other parameters', indirectly denying that Quad infra initiative was a counter to China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla on Saturday (September 25) said that infrastructure partnership between Quad nations was independent of 'any other parameters', indirectly denying that Quad infra initiative was a counter to China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He was responding to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma's question during press conference. "You spoke about infrastructure partnership, can you detail something on the scale and scope of this? And is this comparable to China's BRI which has pushed countries into debt? Also, is Quad going to have a military dimension?" asked Palki Sharma. × "The idea is to provide certain standards to provide a certain level of transparency," said Shringla. Reading from a paper in his hand, Shringla said that Quad infrastructure partnership would look at "mapping region's infrastructure needs, co-ordinating regional needs and opportunities, providing technical assistance, empowering regional partners with evaluative tools, promoting sustainable infrastructure development" On repeating the question on military angle of the Quad. Shringla avoided direct comment. Also Read | Quad joint statement underlines need for open Indo-Pacific 'undaunted by coercion' Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China's ambitious infrastructure project that is expected to span Asia, Europe by land and even Africa via waterways. However, China's approach has raised alarm worldwide. The countries implementing BRI projects on their soil are often seen to get stuck in a debt trap thus keeping their economies at China's mercy. Also Read | We will monitor actions, not the words of the Taliban: Japan's PM Quad grouping, comprising of Australia, India, Japan and the USA is often perceived as a group of nations that wants to contain growing Chinese assertiveness. Quad countries had their first-ever in-person summit in Washington on Saturday (local time). In the run-up to the Quad summit China expressed its displeasure as said that the grouping was “doomed to fail”.

Quad infra partnership independent of BRI, Indian foreign secretary tells Wion

The joint statement of Quad countries released on Friday stressed the need for open Indo-Pacific region 'undaunted by coercion'. Though&nbsp;China has not been named in this regard, experts have been quoted in media reports to underline hint towards China. The joint statement was released after leaders of Quad countries (India, Australia, USA, Japan) held their first ever in-person summit in Washington.

China has said that the Quad grouping was "doomed to fail."

Quad joint statement batted for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

"We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states," US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint statement after the talks.

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&nbsp;

Their statement made frequent mention of the leaders' insistence on rules-based behavior in a region where China has been trying to flex its muscles.

"Together, we &nbsp;recommit to promoting  the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in  international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity &nbsp;in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," they said.

The Quad leaders also voiced support for small island states, especially those in the Pacific, in order to enhance their economic and environmental resilience.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-summit-us-president-says-india-should-have-permanent-seat-at-unsc-mea-after-quad-summit-415719">US President says India should have permanent seat at UNSC: MEA after Quad summit</a> 
 
Additionally, they urged North Korea to engage in diplomacy over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which Pyongyang has refused to do unless international sanctions are dropped.

The leaders took steps to expand vaccines worldwide, welcoming India's plan to resume exports in October.

After the meeting, Suga told reporters the countries agreed to cooperate on vaccines, clean energy and space, and to hold a summit meeting every year.

Modi told his fellow Quad leaders India would permit export of 8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of October under a deal the grouping reached in March to supply a billion doses to the Indo-Pacific, India's foreign secretary said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quad-summit-leaders-announce-fellowship-for-stem-field-415697">Quad summit: Leaders announce fellowship for STEM field</a>

The plan to supply a billion doses across Asia by the end of 2022 stalled after India, the world's largest vaccine producer, banned exports in April amid a massive COVID outbreak at home.

India has said when it restarts vaccine exports it will prioritize the COVAX international vaccine initiative and neighboring countries.

The Quad announced several new pacts, including one to bolster supply chain security for semiconductors and to combat illegal fishing and boost maritime domain awareness.

It also rolled out a 5G partnership and plans to track climate change.

"Acknowledging the role of governments in fostering an enabling environment for 5G diversification, we will work together to facilitate public-private cooperation and demonstrate in 2022 the scalability and cyber security of open, standards-based technology," the leaders said.

The meeting came just over a week after the United States, Britain and Australia announced an AUKUS security pact that will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a move roundly denounced by Beijing.

A Japanese government spokesman said Suga told the meeting that Japan considered the AUKUS partnership to be "taking an important role for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region."

U.S. officials had sought to play down the security aspect of the Quad before the meeting, even though members carry out naval drills together and share concerns about China's growing power and attempts to exert pressure on all four countries.

Morrison said AUKUS and the Quad were "mutually reinforcing."

He told reporters, "That's the whole point of the Quad and AUKUS. They're not there to replace anything but to add to it."

In a briefing on Friday a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman appeared to criticize the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, as it is formally known.

"A closed, exclusive clique targeting other countries runs counter to the trend of the times and the aspirations of regional countries," said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian.

"It will find no support and is doomed to fail."

China has denounced the Quad as a Cold War construct and says the AUKUS alliance would intensify a regional arms race.

(With inputs from agencies)

The joint statement of Quad countries released on Friday stressed the need for open Indo-Pacific region 'undaunted by coercion'. Though China has not been named in this regard, experts have been quoted in media reports to underline hint towards China.

The joint statement of Quad countries released on Friday stressed the need for open Indo-Pacific region 'undaunted by coercion'. Though China has not been named in this regard, experts have been quoted in media reports to underline hint towards China. The joint statement was released after leaders of Quad countries (India, Australia, USA, Japan) held their first ever in-person summit in Washington. China has said that the Quad grouping was "doomed to fail." Quad joint statement batted for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. "We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states," US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint statement after the talks. × Their statement made frequent mention of the leaders' insistence on rules-based behavior in a region where China has been trying to flex its muscles. "Together, we  recommit to promoting  the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in  international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity  in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," they said. The Quad leaders also voiced support for small island states, especially those in the Pacific, in order to enhance their economic and environmental resilience. Also Read | US President says India should have permanent seat at UNSC: MEA after Quad summit Additionally, they urged North Korea to engage in diplomacy over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which Pyongyang has refused to do unless international sanctions are dropped. The leaders took steps to expand vaccines worldwide, welcoming India's plan to resume exports in October. After the meeting, Suga told reporters the countries agreed to cooperate on vaccines, clean energy and space, and to hold a summit meeting every year. Modi told his fellow Quad leaders India would permit export of 8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of October under a deal the grouping reached in March to supply a billion doses to the Indo-Pacific, India's foreign secretary said. Also Read | Quad summit: Leaders announce fellowship for STEM field The plan to supply a billion doses across Asia by the end of 2022 stalled after India, the world's largest vaccine producer, banned exports in April amid a massive COVID outbreak at home. India has said when it restarts vaccine exports it will prioritize the COVAX international vaccine initiative and neighboring countries. The Quad announced several new pacts, including one to bolster supply chain security for semiconductors and to combat illegal fishing and boost maritime domain awareness. It also rolled out a 5G partnership and plans to track climate change. "Acknowledging the role of governments in fostering an enabling environment for 5G diversification, we will work together to facilitate public-private cooperation and demonstrate in 2022 the scalability and cyber security of open, standards-based technology," the leaders said. The meeting came just over a week after the United States, Britain and Australia announced an AUKUS security pact that will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a move roundly denounced by Beijing. A Japanese government spokesman said Suga told the meeting that Japan considered the AUKUS partnership to be "taking an important role for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region." U.S. officials had sought to play down the security aspect of the Quad before the meeting, even though members carry out naval drills together and share concerns about China's growing power and attempts to exert pressure on all four countries. Morrison said AUKUS and the Quad were "mutually reinforcing." He told reporters, "That's the whole point of the Quad and AUKUS. They're not there to replace anything but to add to it." In a briefing on Friday a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman appeared to criticize the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, as it is formally known. "A closed, exclusive clique targeting other countries runs counter to the trend of the times and the aspirations of regional countries," said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian. "It will find no support and is doomed to fail." China has denounced the Quad as a Cold War construct and says the AUKUS alliance would intensify a regional arms race. (With inputs from agencies)

Quad joint statement underlines need for open Indo-Pacific 'undaunted by coercion'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York on Friday evening (local time). He is scheduled to address 76th session of UNGA today (Indian time). PM Modi left from Washington after meeting US President Joe Biden and attending the Quad Summit.

"Thank you, Washington! Onward bound for New York. After a historic Quad Leaders` Summit and bilateral engagements with USA, Australia and Japan, PM Narendra Modi departs for the New York leg of his visit," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

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Thank you, Washington! Onward bound for New York. 
After a historic Quad Leaders’ Summit and bilateral engagements with USA, Australia and Japan, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> departs for the New York leg of his visit. <a href="https://t.co/I9ZNruiZKU">pic.twitter.com/I9ZNruiZKU</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1441541212926881796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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PM Modi is in US for a three-day visit. He arrived on Wednesday. This is his first visit to a country beyond India's neighbourhood since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-summit-us-president-says-india-should-have-permanent-seat-at-unsc-mea-after-quad-summit-415719">US President says India should have permanent seat at UNSC: MEA after Quad summit</a> 
 
PM Modi`s US visit will conclude on September 25 with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change and other important issues.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-summit-modi-biden-morrison-suga-vow-free-open-indo-pacific-at-historic-first-quad-summit-415687">Quad summit: Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first in-person meet</a>

The theme for this year`s General Debate is `Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations`.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York on Friday evening (local time). He is scheduled to address 76th session of UNGA today (Indian time). PM Modi left from Washington after meeting US President Joe Biden and attending the Quad Summit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York on Friday evening (local time). He is scheduled to address 76th session of UNGA today (Indian time). PM Modi left from Washington after meeting US President Joe Biden and attending the Quad Summit. "Thank you, Washington! Onward bound for New York. After a historic Quad Leaders` Summit and bilateral engagements with USA, Australia and Japan, PM Narendra Modi departs for the New York leg of his visit," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Thank you, Washington! Onward bound for New York. After a historic Quad Leaders’ Summit and bilateral engagements with USA, Australia and Japan, PM @narendramodi departs for the New York leg of his visit. pic.twitter.com/I9ZNruiZKU — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2021 × PM Modi is in US for a three-day visit. He arrived on Wednesday. This is his first visit to a country beyond India's neighbourhood since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Also Read | US President says India should have permanent seat at UNSC: MEA after Quad summit PM Modi`s US visit will conclude on September 25 with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change and other important issues. Also Read | Quad summit: Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first in-person meet The theme for this year`s General Debate is `Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations`. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi arrives in New York, will address UNGA today

Catholic Church on Friday "unequivocally" aplogised to Canada's indigenous people for about a century of abuse at church-run residential schools which were set up by government to assimilate indigenous children into mainstream. However, indigenous leaders are still waiting for mea culpa from the pope himself.

"We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally," read a statement, in which they said they were "fully committed" to reconciliation.

The issue of abuses in church-run schools in Canada hit international headlines after discoveries of about 1200 unmarked graves at three sites where indigenous children were forced to attend the schools

In total, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from the families.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-200-indigenous-children-went-missing-or-died-after-entering-a-hospital-in-quebec-411863">At least 200 indigenous children went missing or died after entering a hospital in Quebec</a>

It also comes less than a week before Canadians mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

The solemn commemoration for the thousands of indigenous children who died or went missing from the schools was set by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said in June that Canadians were "horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved."

In the statement, the bishops said they "acknowledge the suffering experienced" by indigenous students and the "grave abuses" inflicted upon them, including "physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual" mistreatment at the hands of headmasters and teachers.

"Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples," they said.

"We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day," it was said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Catholic Church on Friday "unequivocally" aplogised to Canada's indigenous people for about a century of abuse at church-run residential schools which were set up by government to assimilate indigenous children into mainstream.

Catholic Church on Friday "unequivocally" aplogised to Canada's indigenous people for about a century of abuse at church-run residential schools which were set up by government to assimilate indigenous children into mainstream. However, indigenous leaders are still waiting for mea culpa from the pope himself. "We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally," read a statement, in which they said they were "fully committed" to reconciliation. The issue of abuses in church-run schools in Canada hit international headlines after discoveries of about 1200 unmarked graves at three sites where indigenous children were forced to attend the schools In total, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from the families. Also Read | At least 200 indigenous children went missing or died after entering a hospital in Quebec It also comes less than a week before Canadians mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. The solemn commemoration for the thousands of indigenous children who died or went missing from the schools was set by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said in June that Canadians were "horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved." In the statement, the bishops said they "acknowledge the suffering experienced" by indigenous students and the "grave abuses" inflicted upon them, including "physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual" mistreatment at the hands of headmasters and teachers. "Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples," they said. "We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day," it was said. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada: Catholic Church apologises 'unequivocally' for indigenous people abuse in schools

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